Apparatus And Method For Dispensing A Deformable Web

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is described for dispensing a deformable web, comprising a transport element rotatable under the influence of a drive, and a web guide disposed opposite thereto. The transport element and the web guide are arranged to cooperate, for the purpose of transport and deformation of the web. Moreover, the drive is fully integrated into the transport element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Aquarius, Netherlands Patent Application No. NL 2002241, filed on Nov. 21, 2008, entitled “Apparatus And Method For Dispensing A Deformable Web,” the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, including any references therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing a deformable web.

BACKGROUND

Such an apparatus is known per se from the prior art. See, e.g., WO2005/102677. The web creased by the disclosed prior art apparatus is used, for instance, as filler. More particularly the filler is used, for instance, as a cushion material to fill up packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disadvantages of known apparatuses, such as those described in WO2005/102677, are that they are relatively slow, sizeable, noisy and susceptible to a number of problems. The present invention contemplates an improved apparatus that addresses these problems.

According to an aspect of the invention, the improved apparatus is characterized by the features of claim 1. In particular, the invention is embodied in an apparatus for dispensing a deformable web that advantageously comprises a (preferably) cylinder-shaped transport element rotatable under the influence of a drive, and a web guide disposed opposite thereto, the transport element and the web guide being arranged to cooperate, for the purpose of transport and deformation of the web.

According to a first aspect, the drive is completely integrated into the transport element. In this way, a web can be dispensed particularly fast, and thereby deformed, for instance folded and/or creased. In addition, the present apparatus is relatively durable and can be manufactured from few components. The number of components moving during use can be limited to a minimum.

Furthermore, an aspect of the invention provides for use of a cylinder-shaped transport element. With such a shape, high dispensing speeds can be achieved in a reliable manner. In particular the cylinder-shaped transport element can engage the web over a relatively large contact surface. An embodiment is particularly advantageous where both a cylinder-shaped transport element and a drive integrated therein are provided.

If the drive is completely integrated into the transport element, then a particularly compact apparatus can be obtained, for instance, without projecting parts. Moreover, use of a separate transmission can be avoided, so that an extra durable, easy-to-maintain and energy-efficient apparatus is achieved. The drive can, for instance, comprise a tube motor.

An outside of the transport element is advantageously provided with friction enhancing projections. The projections (e.g., relatively blunt studs) ensure high web throughput speeds and bring about web deformation (e.g., folding and/or crumpling) during web feed-through.

At least the outside of the transport element is manufactured from friction enhancing material. The outside, in a particular embodiment, is a resilient friction enhancing material such as rubber.

According to a further aspect of particular embodiments, the apparatus is provided with a housing. The housing is arranged to hold a web to be dispensed. The housing is then preferably provided with an inner space that is substantially closed off from an environment and arranged to fully enclose a web to be dispensed. Thus, the housing properly protects the web to be dispensed from unwanted ambient influences such as, for example, moisture or manipulation. Moreover, the housing affords safety to bystanders during use of the apparatus. It is then further preferred that the housing be provided with at least one transparent wall through which, for example, the contents (web to be dispensed) are visible for the purpose of inspection.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the apparatus includes a number of walls (for instance a front wall, rear wall, and sidewalls extending therebetween) that are provided with wall parts obliquely converging towards one other and extending to a web dispensing area. During use, inner sides of the wall parts may already provide for a web guidance, and/or a web deformation. In addition, in this way, a stable apparatus can be obtained, having a relatively high stiffness and strength, utilizing relatively lightweight wall materials. Such walls can, for example, be made of plastic, Plexiglas, glass, or the like, such as, for instance, from plastic plate material. The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned materials. Other options include use of walls manufactured, for instance, from metal, an alloy, wood and/or the like.

A particularly compact, relatively low-noise apparatus is obtained when the housing is provided with an upper edge which surrounds a web passage, the housing being preferably provided with a cover structure which holds the transport element and the web guide, and preferably the drive, at a level above the upper edge.

Preferably, the transport element and the drive during operation are situated in or under the cover structure and at least under an upper wall of the apparatus defined by the cover structure.

A preferred embodiment comprises an apparatus designed to draw a web from a stationary web roll and dispense it. The apparatus may, in particular, include a support to support a side of the web roll. Moreover, such a support can provide stability to the apparatus, whether or not the apparatus is utilizing a web roll mass carried by the support. A weight of the web roll may for instance be active centrally on the apparatus during use.

The present invention furthermore concerns an advantageous method for dispensing a web, utilizing an apparatus according to the invention, wherein a web roll and the apparatus are disposed stationarily with respect to each other, wherein a web end of the stationary web roll is passed along the transport element and the web guide, wherein the drive imparts rotation to the transport element for dispensing the web. Preferably, a roll holder provided with the web roll is provided, with the roll holder being opened and brought into a position cooperating with the apparatus, to load the apparatus with the web roll.

The present invention furthermore concerns an advantageous method for dispensing a web, for instance utilizing an apparatus according to the invention, wherein a rotating cylinder-shaped web transport element and a stationary web guide cooperate with each other to deform, and further discharge, a web passed between them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantageous elaborations of the invention are described in the appended claims. Presently, the invention will be further elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments and the drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective drawing of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of the example shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a front elevational view of the example shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the example shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective drawing of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a detail of the second example, in a vertical section.

The same or corresponding features in this application are designated with the same or corresponding reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of an apparatus 1 for dispensing a deformable web. The web W to be deformed in the example is manufactured from paper, and is creasable and foldable. The dispensed web can for instance have utility as dunnage, for instance a cushion material, to fill up packages.

The apparatus 1 is provided with a housing 10, arranged to hold the web W to be dispensed. The present housing 10 includes an inner space which can be substantially closed off from an environment. The housing 10 is arranged to fully enclose the web W to be dispensed, for instance, to increase safety of use of the apparatus and to protect the web W. In this example, the housing 10 can receive the web W in a rolled-up condition, as a paper roll R.

The housing 10 is manufactured wholly from plastic, and preferably with substantially closed walls 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e having a thickness of less than 1 cm, so that a relatively lightweight apparatus 1 can be obtained. By the use of a space that during use is substantially closed off (by a housing 10) from an environment, to hold paper web W to be dispensed, the apparatus 1 can operate, in a relatively low-noise manner, at high web dispensing speeds.

The housing 10 may include a front wall 10 a, rear wall 10 b, and opposite sidewalls 10 c, 10 d extending therebetween. The walls 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d in this case are provided with tapering wall parts 10 at, 10 bt, 10 ct, 10 dt extending towards an upper edge TR situated at a web dispensing area. The upper edge TR of the housing 10 (comprising upper edges of the tapering wall parts) surrounds a web passage.

The paper roll R, during use, extends between the walls 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, on the bottom 10 e and below the (horizontal) level of the tapering wall parts 10 at, 10 bt, 10 ct, 10 dt.

The bottom 10 e forms a support for supporting a side of the web roll R, in particular such that a centerline of the web roll R extends at right angles to a centerline of the transport element 5 already mentioned. In the example, web W during use is unwound from a radially inner part of the roll R (i.e., the roll R is unwound from the inside to the outside).

A roll supporting face defined by the bottom 10 e is for instance larger than a web passage defined by the apparatus, situated opposite that support 10 e, near a transport element 5 discussed further hereinafter.

The tapering wall parts 10 at, 10 bt, 10 ct, 10 dt provide a (truncated) pyramid-shaped top of the housing, whose (preferably smooth) inner side is configured to guide the paper web W from the roll R to transport element 5 and guide 11, via the passage surrounded by the upper edge R. The top of the housing can already pre-form, at least gather, the web W. Further, the apparatus 1 can thus engage web W from rolls of different dimensions, allowing relatively high dispensing speeds to be achieved in a reliable manner, both during web unwinding from relatively central locations in the inner space and when web W is being pulled from locations close to the walls 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d out of the inner space.

Preferably, the housing 10 is provided with at least one transparent wall. Each of the walls 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d may, for instance, be of transparent design. In addition, one or more wall may, for instance, be lightproof. In the example, at least one of the walls, viz. the front wall 10 a, inclusive of a respective tapering part 10 at, is of transparent design. As a result, both the web roll R, and transport of the web W between roll R and the upper edge of the housing 10, are well visible from an environment during use. The housing 10 may include a cover structure 51, 52, which holds a transport element 5 and a web guide 11 at a level above the upper edge of the housing 10. In this exemplary embodiment, during operation the transport element 5 and the drive 6 (with a cover closed) are situated wholly in a space surrounded by the cover structure, under a top wall 52 of the apparatus defined by the cover structure.

The housing 10 is provided, for example, with an access closable by a wall. In such example, the housing 10 includes an access closable by a pivotable front wall 10 a (door). The front wall 10 a is coupled to a sidewall 10 d by hinges (see also FIG. 5). The Figs. provided herewith show a closed position of the front wall 10 a. In an opened, outwardly pivoted position thereof, the inner space surrounded by housing 10 is accessible, for example, to insert a web roll R and to draw web W from the roll and bring it to the cover 51, 52, in order to be taken over by the transport element 5. Preferably, the whole wall 10 a, hence inclusive of a respective tapering upper part 10 at, forms a movable component to close the access (see also FIG. 5). The apparatus 1 may, for example, include a retaining device 71, 72 to keep the front wall 10 a in a closed position. In the exemplary embodiment, the retaining device is provided with a permanent magnet 71 (for example arranged on a sidewall 10 c) which engages a metal strip 72 (in this case arranged on the door 10 a) in a closed position of the door.

The apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1-4 is of particularly compact and robust construction, and to this end advantageously includes a cylinder-shaped transport element 5 (having an outside of substantially circular cross section) rotatable under the influence of a drive and a web guide 11 disposed opposite thereto. In particular, the apparatus 1 is not provided with gears that would potentially deform the web. Nor does the apparatus 1 include separate gears to transmit rotation of an external motor shaft to web transport means. This form of the transport element 5 contributes to durability, reliability and a low noise level. The transport element 5 and the web guide 11 are arranged to cooperate, for the purpose of transport and deformation of the web W (laid along them).

The drive 7 in the exemplary embodiment, is fully integrated into the transport element 5 and is preferably a tube motor 7—the transport element 5 being a (cylinder-shaped) tube 5 driven by that motor 7.

The guide of the first example is a cylinder-shaped counter roller 11 rotatable about a respective axis. Rotation axes of the roller 11 and transport element 5 are parallel with respect to each other.

The outside of the transport element 5 is preferably uninterrupted, closed, and preferably wholly manufactured from friction enhancing material. Such material is, in particular, resilient friction enhancing material such as rubber. In this way, the transport element 5 provides a good grip on the paper. The outside of the counter roller 11 also includes friction enhancing material.

The web guide 11 is movable from the web guide position moved to the transport element 5, shown in FIGS. 2-4, to a release position moved away from the transport element 5 (shown in FIG. 1), and vice versa.

The present apparatus comprises a web dispensing head. In particular the apparatus includes a cover structure 51, 52 as mentioned, provided with a first cover part 51, attached to the upper side of the housing 10, and a second cover part 52 which is movable (in particular pivotable) relative to the first cover part 52.

One cover part (in the example the first cover part 51) includes the drive 7 with transport element 5, and the other cover part (in the example the second cover part 52) includes the rotatable (itself non-driven) guide 11. In a closed position of the cover 51, 52, the cover preferably constitutes a substantially closed covering of the top of the housing 10, and of the transport element with motor 5, 6 and rotatable guide 11 held by the cover 51, 52. As a result, the cover 51, 52 provides a good reduction of acoustic transmission to control broadcast of noise coming from the apparatus. Optionally, the apparatus includes, on an inside thereof, sound-absorbing material—e.g., acoustic foam or the like (not shown)—to achieve further noise reduction. As follows from the Figs., the cover parts 51, 52 may provided on an inside thereof with for instance wall parts 51 a, 52 a, which—viewed in front view—partly overlap rearwardly situated rotatable components 5, 11. The latter wall parts 51 a, 52 a bound a web dispensing gap with the cover 51, 52 closed. Sidewalls, a top wall and rear wall of the cover 51, 52 are preferably wholly closed, with the cover closed.

In the position of the cover parts 51, 52 when moved away from each other, guide 11 and transport element 5 are moved apart, such that web W can be passed between them (see, FIG. 1). Thereupon, cover parts 51, 52 can be brought into the position moved towards each other, such that the web W is clamped between guide 11 and transport element 5, to be engaged by guide 11 and transport element 5 and to be discharged from the housing 10 at high speed.

Preferably, the apparatus 1 includes a locking means, for instance releasable closing elements 53, to lock the cover parts 51, 52 in the position moved towards each other.

Further, the apparatus (for instance cover 51, 52) advantageously includes spring means, arranged to spring-mount the web guide 11, and in particular to push the guide 11 under the influence of spring force in the direction of the transport element 5 (i.e. in a radial direction of the guide 11). The spring suspension of the counter roller 11 can provide a particular pressure, to transport the paper W. In this way, a particularly reliable operation of the apparatus can be achieved, and jamming of web W in the cover 51, 52 can be avoided. Furthermore, the spring means of the web guide 11 can bring about a proper web engagement between web guide 11 and driving tube 5, and also reduce noise during operation.

The present apparatus 1, when in use, draws web W from a stationary web roll R, folds it and dispenses it. The apparatus includes only one transport element 5, drivable by a drive 7, to transport and deform the web. Preferably, the apparatus dispenses the web W at a speed of more than 100 meters per minute. More particularly the web W is dispensed at a speed of more than 150 meters per minute, and even more particularly the web W is dispensed at a speed of at least 200 meters per minute.

As FIGS. 1-4 illustratively depict, the apparatus 1 during use can dispense web W, with the web roll R and the apparatus 1 being disposed stationarily with respect to each other. A web end of the stationary web roll R (with cover 51, 52 open) is passed along the transport element 5 and the web guide 11. The drive 7 imparts rotation to the transport element 5 for dispensing the web W.

Folded web W dispensed by the apparatus has for instance a tubular shape including at least two longitudinal folds (see FIGS. 1, 3). A web W dispensed over a particular length is removed from a remaining web part—e.g., torn off, cut off or the like. To this end, the apparatus 1 optionally includes tearing or cutting means (e.g., a saw tooth strip) which, for example, is arranged on or near the head 51, 52.

The example shown in FIGS. 5-6 differs from the first example in that the web guide comprises a stationarily disposed guide element 111. In this case, an outside of the transport element 105 and an inside of the web guide 111 extending opposite thereto bound a deformation zone of a circular segment-shaped cross section (see FIG. 6). The second example is designed in particular to crease the web W. Also, this example provides a fold in the web W as represented in the figures.

The rotatable transport element 105 is disposed on or near the upper end of the housing 110 and, in particular, connected via the drive and two rigid coupling pieces 161 to a (in this case truncated pyramid-shaped) cover part 151 of the housing 110.

The rotatable transport element 105 extends between an inside of the web guide 111 on one side and a web accommodation space defined by the housing on the other side. In this example, the web guide 111 comprises an integral component of the housing, and in particular is integrated with a rear wall 110B of the housing 110.

In this example, an outside of the transport element 105 includes friction enhancing projections 106. The projections 106 preferably meet one or more of the following features, and more preferably each of the following features:

1. the projections 106 are studs, having a diameter in the range of circa 0.5-5 cm;

2. a thickness of each of the projections measured in radial direction is greater than 0.2 cm;

3. a thickness of each of the projections 106 measured in a radial direction is at least equal to or greater than a radial distance measured between an outer surface of the rotatable element 105 and the web guide 111;

4. a neighbor distance between the studs is in the range of circa 1-10 cm; and

5. the transport element is provided with more than 10 projections 106, and for example fewer than 50 projections 106.

The operation of the second example comprises cooperation between the rotating cylinder-shaped web transport element 105 and a stationary web guide 11, to crease and further discharge the web W passed therebetween. Here, the projections 106, preferably stud-shaped, bring about crumpling during transport, along with a proper engagement of a paper web W. This example too can achieve high web discharge speeds, and is reliable, compact, low-noise and durable.

To those skilled in the art, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described. Various changes are possible within the framework of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. An apparatus for dispensing a deformable web, comprising: a transport element rotatable under the influence of a drive, and a web guide disposed opposite thereto, wherein the transport element and the web guide are arranged to cooperate to transport and deform the web, and wherein the drive is fully integrated into the transport element.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport element is a cylinder-shaped transport element.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive is a tube motor, and the transport element is a tube driven by the tube motor.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web guide is a counter roller.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a spring means arranged to push the web guide under spring force in a direction of the transport element.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web guide is movable from a web guide position moved towards the transport element to a release position moved away from the transport element, and vice versa.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web guide comprises a stationarily disposed guide element, wherein an outside of the transport element and an inside of the web guide extending opposite thereto bound a deformation zone having a circular segment-shaped cross section.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the outside of the transport element is manufactured from friction enhancing material.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the outside of the transport element is provided with a resilient material.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an outside of the transport element is provided with friction enhancing projections which meet one or more of the following set of features: (1) the projections are studs, having a diameter in the range of circa 0.5-5 cm; (2) a thickness of each of the projections measured in radial direction is greater than 0.2 cm; (3) a thickness of each of the projections measured in radial direction is at least equal to or greater than a radial distance measured between an outer surface of the rotatable element and the web guide; (4) a neighbor distance between the studs is in the range of circa 1-10 cm; and (5) the transport element is provided with more than 10 projections, and for instance fewer than
 50. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing arranged to hold a web to be dispensed.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the housing is provided with an inner space that is capable of being substantially closed off from an environment and wherein the housing is configured to fully enclose a web to be dispensed.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the housing includes at least one transparent wall.
 14. The apparatus according to any one of claim 12, wherein the housing includes: a front wall and a rear wall, and sidewalls extending between the front wall and the rear wall.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, including substantially obliquely tapering wall parts.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the housing includes an upper edge which surrounds a web passage, wherein the housing includes a cover structure which holds the transport element and the web guide at a level above said upper edge.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the rotatable transport element is disposed on or near an upper end of the housing, and wherein the rotatable transport element is connected via the drive and at least one rigid coupling piece to the housing.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 1, designed to draw a web from a stationary web roll and dispense it.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with a support to support a side of the web roll such that a centerline of the web roll extends at right angles with respect to a centerline of the transport element, and wherein a roll supporting face defined by the support is larger than a web passage defined by the apparatus, situated opposite that support, near the transport element.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes only one transport element drivable by a drive to transport and deform the web.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus dispenses the web with a speed of more than 100 meters per minute.
 22. The apparatus of claim 1, for dispensing a deformable web, and further comprising a cylinder-shaped transport element rotatable under the influence of a drive, and a web guide disposed opposite thereto, wherein the transport element and the web guide are arranged to cooperate to transport and deform the web.
 23. A method for dispensing a web wherein a rotating cylinder-shaped web transport element and a stationary web guide cooperate with each other to deform and further discharge the web passed therebetween. 